Scam alert! IT engineer from Pune loses Rs 49 lakh in YouTube scam, got part-time job offer on WhatsApp

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jun 25, 2023 | Kabir Chakraborty

In a recent case, an IT engineer from Pune was promised a 30% return on her investment but ended up losing Rs 49 lakh.

Digital Desk: In recent months, there has been an
increase in recorded occurrences involving individuals falling victim to
fraudulent schemes, resulting in financial loss. These scams generally begin
with victims receiving enticing "part-time job offers" that entail
earning money by liking YouTube videos in exchange for payment. Scammers
initially deposit a little quantity of money into the victims' accounts to
develop confidence. However, as the victims' faith grows, the scammers coerce
them into investing more sums, promising even higher returns. Until now,
several people have been scammed out of enormous sums of money by such schemes.
In a recent case, an IT engineer from Pune was promised a 30% return on her
investment but ended up losing Rs 49 lakh.

Pune-based IT engineer loses
money

The
incident occurred between the 28th of March and the 28th of April. Two months
later, a complaint was filed. Hinjewadi resident Snehasingh Hridaynarayan Singh
(35), lodged a complaint at the Hinjewadi police station. As a result, a
complaint has been filed against Adhuri Ganguly.

According to a story in
the Pune Mirror, scammers approached an IT professional from Hinjewadi, Pune,
with a job offer requiring her to just like YouTube videos. According to the investigation,
the incident occurred between March 28 and April 28. Two months after the
occurrence, a complaint was submitted at the Hinjewadi police station.

According to the authorities, the girl
received an attractive employment offer message on WhatsApp that promised her
extra money for liking YouTube videos. Initially, the woman, an IT engineer,
was paid Rs 150 and Rs 350 for fulfilling the duties provided by the scammer.
The scam took a dramatic turn when the victim began to trust the fraudster and
was urged to contribute money for additional chores. The fraudster had promised
the victim a 30% return on her investment. The victim subsequently invested a
total of Rs 49 lakh in the expectation of receiving a 30% return, however this
did not occur because the scammer never returned any money.

In response to such
events, API Anil Lohar told Mirror, "Cyber criminals continue to update
and change their methods." People should be cautious when conducting
online transactions and should avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links.
Never give out your bank account information or OTP to anyone. Many examples of
fraud occur when people are asked to undertake online chores for money; people
should not trust such schemes."

How to stay safe

There
are a few things that people can keep in mind to avoid falling victim to such
frauds. To begin, it is recommended to apply for employment using legitimate
job portals such as LinkedIn, Naukri.com, Indeed, and others. If you must apply
for jobs through other channels, conduct a comprehensive background check on
the person providing the position and determine his or her legitimacy. Inquire
about their name, the name of their company, and so forth. A simple Google
search can sometimes assist you determine whether or not the company offering
the position exists.

Also, exercise extreme caution when
entering personal information such as your name, phone number, and so on, and
only input it on reliable websites.

Finally, never transfer money to a
stranger's bank account or give out your banking information to anyone.